Fiorentina loses in Greece, but it is not the result that calls Palladino into question. The problem is deeper and has roots much closer than Athens…
Palladino rischia grosso, ma il “Pana” non c’entra: c’è un motivo molto più profondo (Foto: Ansa) – serieanews.com
There are defeats that hurt because of how they come, more than the result itself. Fiorentina came away from Athens with a 3-2 defeat by Panathinaikos, a scoreline that leaves everything open for the return leg, but one that causes more discussion because of the manner than the actual extent of the damage.
An underwhelming first half, a few too many mistakes and three goals – especially the one on Terracciano’s duck – that leave a bitter taste in the mouth. But if the qualification talk is still alive, why is Palladino still in the balance?
No, Panathinaikos had nothing to do with it. Or rather, the defeat in Greece is not the cause of the perplexities circulating around the coach. The problem is another one, and it is rooted in internal relations within the club and the locker room.
The paradox is that Palladino could even end the season with positive results, yet still find himself with the door in his face. A situation that is not unheard of in soccer: because, in addition to numbers, relationships count. And if these are cracked, there is often no winning that matters.
Cosa non va nel rapporto fra Palladino e la Fiorentina
If one looked only at the numbers, Fiorentina’s season would not be bad at all. A championship all in line with the goals, the Conference League still to play for and a team identity that, although with some difficulties, is being built. But in soccer, victories are not enough if there is a lack of chemistry between people.
Rumors about a complicated relationship between Palladino and sporting director Daniele Pradè have been circulating for weeks. Differences in views, friction over team management and, in general, a harmony that has never really taken off.
The problem, however, is not limited to the upper echelons. According to some rumors we have gathered, a part of the locker room has never quite digested the coach. Some speak of a cold relationship, some of a lack of empathetic management, and some even of a real dislike for his methods that are considered a bit saccharine. In short, a matter of feeling, or rather lack of feeling.
It must be said that as of today, Palladino’s bench does not appear to be at immediate risk. Not least because, even with a few stumbles, results still hold him up. But the problem is not the present: it is the future.
If the rift with the management and part of the locker room does not heal, a farewell at the end of the season appears increasingly likely, perhaps to a new, equally exciting destination. Now the ball is in the company’s court: the coming weeks will be decisive. But one thing is certain: Panathinaikos was just a pretext. Here the problem is much deeper.
This article Palladino risks big, but the “Pana” has nothing to do with it: there is a much deeper reason it appeared in its original version, first on the website SerieANews.
